[bigMatt]

As more or less promised, I've decided to adjust financials on the fly.

Initially, I gave every candidate $1 million. To run in a state costs $250,000, or a candidate can double that and go for broke in a state (gets them training in all fights for that primary). Super Duper Tuesday has 24 primaries. Given the closeness of the contests thus far, to continue this financial arrangement would force even the front runners to cherry pick where they will run on Super Duper Tuesday. Consequently, a state like NM might not have ANYONE running - or a give some second tier candidate a cheap win as the only one running.

Here's what we're going to do to fix it.

After the SC primary, I will make an assessment of each remaining candidate's finances. The frontrunner will get an infusion of donor contributions equal to the difference between his existing coffers and the $6 million needed to run in all primaries and caucuses on Super Tuesday. All other candidates with at least $1 million in their coffers will receive the same amount of contribution as the frontrunner. Those with less than $1 million in their coffers will get a % based on their current war chests. Those with $250,000 or less will receive $0, as they have failed to gain enough support to be worthy of it.

So, let's say that after South Carolina, the financial landscape looks like this:

Richardson $4 million
Dodd $2 million
Edwards, Obama $750,000
Clinton, Gravel $500,000
Biden, Kucinich $250,000

Richardson would collect $2 million to reach the $6 million bogey. Dodd, having contributions in excess of $1 million, also collects $2 million - 100% of Richardson's take. Edwards and Obama would receive $1.5 million, Clinton and Gravel would receive $1 million. Biden and Kucinich would receive nothing.

This will create some forced choices in Nevada and SC. Does a candidate risk going below $500,000 and miss out on matching funds? Does a candidate double up to get to that $1 million target for 100% matching funds? And of course, with the ultimate prize being delegates, do financial considerations change the dynamics of these two contests, sidelining some and allowing the bottom feeders to sneak in a cheap win?

More to come. The polls in Nevada will be closing soon...